Ezra Chapter 1

1. Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuba kufezeke izwi likaJehova, ngomlomo kaJeremiya uJehova wavusa umoya kaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuba amemezele embusweni wakhe wonke, alobe futhi ngokuthi:

2. “Usho kanje uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya, uthi: “ ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wezulu unginikile yonke imibuso yomhlaba; ungiyalile ukumakhela indlu eJerusalema lakwaJuda.

3. Noma ngumuphi phakathi kwenu kubo bonke abantu bakhe, uNkulunkulu wakhe makabe naye, akhuphukele eJerusalema lakwaJuda, akhe indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena onguNkulunkulu waseJerusalema.

4. Bonke abaseleyo, nakuziphi izindawo lapho begogobele khona, mabasizwe ngabantu bendawo yabo ngesiliva, nangegolide, nangempahla, nangezinkomo kanye nomnikelo wesihle wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema.’ ”

5. Kwase kusuka izinhloko zawoyise bakwaJuda noBenjamini, nabapristi, namaLevi, bonke abamoya wabo uNkulunkulu ayewuvusile ukuba bakhuphuke bakhe indlu kaJehova eseJerusalema.

6. Bonke ababazungezayo basekela izandla zabo ngezitsha zesiliva, nangegolide, nangempahla, nangezinkomo, nangamagugu, kanye nakho konke okwanikelwa ngakho ngenhliziyo.

7. UKoresi inkosi wakhipha izinto zendlu kaJehova, uNebukadinesari ayezikhiphile eJerusalema wazibeka endlini yawonkulunkulu bakhe,

8. yebo, zona uKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya wazikhipha ngesandla sikaMithiredati umphathisikhwama, wazibalela kuSheshebasari isikhulu sakwaJuda.

9. Nanku umumo wazo: izingqwembe ezingamashumi amathathu zegolide, nezingqwembe eziyinkulungwane zesiliva, nawomese abangamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye,

10. nezindebe ezingamashumi amathathu zegolide, nezindebe zesiliva zohlobo lwesibili ezingamakhulu amane neshumi, nezinye izitsha eziyinkulungwane.

11. Zonke izitsha zegolide nezesiliva zaziyizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu namakhulu amane. Zonke lezo uSheshebasari wazikhuphula ekukhushulweni kwabathunjwa eBabele ukuya eJerusalema.